Motion-picture projector



May l, 1945.

R. J. MlLLER MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 Filed May l, 1941 Z INVENTOR.

HTTOEA/fy Patented May 1, 1945 MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTOR Raymond J. Miller, Detroit, Mich., -asslgnor to American Pattern and Manufacturing Co., Detroit, Mich., a copartnership consisting o! said Miller and Alfred E. Wilson, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 1, 1941, Serial No. 391,258

Claims.

This invention relates to motion picture projectors and more particularly to an improved aperture plate adjustably mounted on a carrier arm to resiliently urge spaced frames oi strip film into engagement with lm tracks associated with an aperture plate, and wherein means are provided to enable the operator to determine the location' of the iilm frames relative to the aperture of the plate.

In the operation of motion picture projectors, independent visual images carried by a strip of film of any suitable material are successively aligned with an aperture in a plate and are projected onto a screen by a light directed through the aperture and illm.

Means such for example as an aperture pressure plate having a plurality of spaced iilm engaging members or shoes may be provided to yieldingly urge the lm into engagement with spaced lilm tracks positioned adjacent the aperture.

It is desirable that the aperture pressure plate and lm shoe guide plate be so mounted in a pressure plate housing that they can be separated from the aperture plate and hlm tracks to enable the operator to thread iilm into the projector. To facilitate manufacture oi the projector and also to improve its operation by compensatins for wear, it is desirable that the nlm shoe guide plate and the pressure plate be vertically and horizontally adjustable relative to the aperture plate, lm tracks and the nlm driving means employed to intermittently align successive nlm frames with the aperture.

I have found that better results are attained if the unsprung weight of Athe nlm engaging shoes employed to resiliently urge the lrn into engagement with the film tracks is minimized.

It is also desirable that means be provided to vary the pressure exerted by the lm engaging shoes to compensate variations of lm thiclmess, and variations of the texture of the nlm due to age, since greater pressure should be exerted by the nlm engaging shoes when new iilm is being used than is exerted when old lilm is being used in tre projector. Better results are also attained if means be provided to permit Varying 0f the pressure exerted by longitudinally spaced film engaging shoes. For example, more stabilized control of the film results if the film engaging shoes beyond the aperture exert slightly greater pressure on the lm than the shoes positioned ahead of the aperture.

To enable the operator to determine the position of a lm frame relative to the aperture of iii the aperture plate, it has been customary to employ a framing light so mounted that it could be moved into the path of the projecting light through the aperture whereby the operator could observe the position oi a lm frame relative to the aperture to determine whether or not the lihn was threaded into the projector in frame. This method of framing has been objectionable because it necessitated an' extra operation on the engaging shoes having minimum unsprung weight.

A further object is to provide adjustable means to vary the pressure exerted on the film by spaced film engaging shoes.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision or vertically and horizontally adjustable means to vary the position of the nlm shoe guide and pressure plates relative to the nlm tracks and the intermittently driven sprocket employed to align successive lni frames With the aperture.

A still further object is to provide improved framing means whereby the position of a nlm frame relative to the aperture may be readily observed.

Still a further object oi the invention is to provide readily accessible manually operable means whereby the pressure plate and its assoelated housing may be removed from its carrier for cleaning, inspection or repair without disturbing the adjustment oi the nlm shoe guide plate relative to the lm guiding and driving means.

Another object is to provide vertically and horizontally adjustable mounting means for detachably connecting a pressure plate housing to a carrier arm in such a manner that the position of lm guide shoes relative to nlm tracks can be varied, and the contact position oi a lm guide shoe relative to an intermittently driven sprocket may he readily adjusted.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of a viewer carried by the pressure plate housing and cooperating with a xed framing light positioned adjacent the aperture ot the aperture plate but out of alignment with the path of the projecting light whereby the operator can.readily determine the position ci a nlm frame relative to the aperture when threading the projector.

Another object is to provide a projector having simplied and rugged lm guiding means which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of illustration only, and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a motion picture projector embodying the present invention.V

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the projector through the aperture pressure plate.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lm shoe guide and pressure plates.

Fig. 5 is a part sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a, sectional view through the pressure plate housing at the eye piece looking downwardly.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modied form of viewer.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of one desirable form of bracket for adjustably attaching the pressure plate housing to a carrier arm.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of attaching bracket.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line ID-l of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the attaching bracket illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be observed that the invention is illustrated as being embodied in a motion picture projector having a main casing I2. 'I'he space within the casing l2 is preferably divided by a substantially vertically extending intermediate wall I into a. lm compartment I6 and a mechanism compartment.

Upper and lower film driving sprockets i8 and and an intermittently driven sprocket 22 project through the intermediate wall I6 and are provided with radially extending sprocket teeth 241 adapted to engage within spaced apertures in film 26 to drive it. The sprockets i8 and 2li are driven by suitable gearing in the mechanism compartment to move the film at a substantially predetermined speed. The intermittently driven sprocket 22 is driven from the mechanism compartment by a suitable intermittence driving mechanism to momentarily align successive lm frames with an aperture 28 formed in an aperture plate til carried by an aperture plate housing 32.

envases The aperture plate @t is preferably supported between film tracks 3G and lm track carrier 35 aligned with the aperture plate housing 32 and with a wall 33 extending transversely from the intermediate wall it and spaced forwardly from a back wall it o the main casing l2.

llhe lm 25 is drawn into the llm compartment IS through a slot l2 formed in the upper wall of the casing l2 by the upper lm driving sprocket i8. After leaving the sprocket is the illm is directed over the top of a shoe guide plate do between nlm guide rollers it and do mounted on a shaft 50 carried by bosses 52 and ttl associated with the aperture plate housing 32. The lm 25 is then intermittently moved downwardly by the intermittently driven sprocket 22 to momentarily align successive film frames with the aperture 28.

The lm 26 is maintained in contact with the sprocket teeth 2d of the intermittently driven sprocket 22 by a. lm tension shoe 5t which comprises an intermittence sprocket shoe d@ so proportioned as to follow the lgeneral contour of the intermittently driven sprocket 22 and maintain the lm in engagement with the sprocket teeth 2li.

Means such for example as a spring il@ may be provided to yieldingly urge the intermittence sprocket shoe 58 towards the intermittently driven sprocket 22 to exert sufficient pressure on the lm 26 to prevent disengagement of the iilm from the sprocket teeth 2d. The spring t@ may be adjustably mounted on a screw d2 threaded into the lm shoe guide plate it whereby the pressure exerted on the lm by the intermittence sprocket shoe 5d can be varied to maintain the lm under a desired tension. A stripper .plate de may beprovided to prevent the iilm 26 from winding up on the sprocket 22 in the event of nlm breakage.

After leaving the sprocket 22 the lm preferably forms a backwardly directed loop extending into an outwardly flared portion to of the back wall du. The nlm is then directed over the lower lm driving sprocket 2o and is discharged from the iilm compartment le through an opening 68 preferably communicating with a sound head.

Projecting light is directed towards the aperture 23 from a suitable light source preferably positioned behind the projector. A shutter of any suitable form such for example as a rotatable member l@ having angularly inclined bladesV 12 may be provided to intermittently interrupt the iiow of projecting light into the film compartment i6 to prevent streaking as successive frames of the 131m 26 are moved into alignment with the aperture 23 4and to prevent visible flicker. The shutter is mounted in a housing lt having a back light admission port it aligned with an inwardly directed baille it formed in the back wall llt.

Suitable heat shields B preferably positioned between the shutter and the back wall dfi of the casing l2 may be provided to retard the ow of heat from the projecting light into a cooling chamber 82. A movable re valve 8d may be provided to lie between a front light admission port St adjacent the forward end of the bafe l@ and the aperture 28 to interrupt the flow of projecting light when the projector is not operating at a desired substantially predetermined speed.

The re valve 8d may be carried by a shaft 88 having a pinion 9G meshing with a rack 92 actuated by speed controlled means driven from the mechanism compartment to maintain the re valve @di inthe open or unobstructing position when the projector is operating at a substantially predetermined speed. The nre valve 04 may also be manually actuated by a rack 94 controlled by a plunger 9| suitably positioned in the film compartment I0.

The cooling chamber 82 preferably communicates with atmosphere on opposite sides of the aperture plate I and film track carriers 3.6

thropgh inlet ports 98 formed in the back wallA 40 and outlet ports communicating with the cooling chamber 82 through a manifold passage |00, and an impeller preferably driven by the rotatable member or the shutter.

The shoe guide plate 44 is mounted in a pressure plate housing |02 mounted on a carrier arm |04. The carrier arm |04 is slldably mounted on a plurality of vertically spaced generally horizontally disposed rods |06 extending longitudinally in the film compartment I6 and attached to the intermediate wall |4.

Motion transmitting means controlled by a lever |00 positioned between the housing |02 and a fixed portion of the projector may be provided to move the pressure plate housing |02 and the pressure shoe guide plate 44 away from the aperture plate 30 and film tracks 34 to enable the operator to thread film into the projector. A telescoping light shield in the form of a ring |09 mounted on studs carried by the housing |02 may be yieldingly urged by springs ||3 towards a lens tube ||5 to enable the housing |02 to separate from the aperture plate to permit the operator to thread film into the projector and m facilitate removal of the pressure plate housins' from the film compartment. The lens tube M5 is supported on a plurality of the vertically spaced horizontally extending rods |06 by a lens tube carrier arm l l l.

A knob H0 carried by a locking shaft M2 may he provided to project through the pressure plate housing |02 to enable the operator to readily remove the pressure plate housing |02 and shoe guide and pressure plates from the carrier arm |04 to clean or adjust them.

A plurality of vertically spaced relatively small iilm engaging shoes H4 and i i6 may be provided to yieldingly urge the film 26 into engagement with the film tracks 34 to maintain the film in a substantially predetermined spaced relation relative to the aperture 28. shoes H4 and H6 project through slots H8 and formed in the shoe guide plate 4t and are provided with laterally extending projections |22 which prevent the shoes from passing completely through the slots Iii and |20.

Means may be provided to vary the pressure exerted on the film by each of the film engaging shoes. One illustrative example of a mechanism for varying the pressure exerted by spaced shoes comprises a pressure plate |28 floatingly mounted relative to the shoe guide plate 44 and having The lm engaging lil) independent vertically spacedsprings such as those illustrated at |24 and |26 interposed between the pressure plate |28 and each of the film engaging shoes ||4 and H6. The springs |24 and |20 may be operably connected to the pressure plaie |28 by suitable screws |30. The pressure plate |28 is thus resiliently mounted on the shoe guide plate 44 and is guided by screws |32 in such a manner that the pressure plate can vary its position angularly to equalize the pressure exerted by the springs on each side of the shoe guide plate 44.

Means may be provided to independently vary the pressure exerted on the film by the vertically spaced film engaging shoes 4 and H6. One desirable form of such pressure varying means comprises cam members |34 and |36 carried by vertically spaced shafts and |40 journalled in the pressure plate housing |02 and engaging vertically spaced cam followers |42 and |44 carried by the pressure plate |28. The shafts |30 and project beyond the outer edge of the pressure plate housing |02 and are provided'with knobs |46 and |40 whereby they may be independently rotated to vary the pressure exerted by the vertically spaced shoes ||4 and H6. The shafts |38 and |40 may be formed with serrated end portions |50 adapted to be engaged by a' spring pressed locking clip |52 t0 prevent the shafts from rotating to vary the pressure exerted on the shoes until subjected to a substantially' predetermined manual rotating force.

Attention is called to the fact that the unsprung weight of the film engaging shoes l|4 and ||6 is minimized because a relatively large number of relatively small and light shoes are employed. Each of the shoes is yieldingly urged towards the film tracks 34 by its individual spring so that any disturbance caused by the lm is not transmitted to the next shoe. Such disturbance of the film may be caused by a variation in thickness of film or by the presence of a splice in the lm where two pieces 0f film have been joined together. When this splice passes through between the film engaging shoes and the film tracks it is necessary for the shoes to move away from the tracks to allow the splice to pass. Thus it will be seen that if the unsprung weight of the lm engaging shoes is low they will recover their original position more rapidly than if the unsprung weight of the shoes were high. Also, it will allow the patch to pass through with less resistance since the inertia is low. It will be noted that only one pair of shoes is effected at a time by the patch while the remaining shoes are performing their function uninterrupted. This all goes to produce a steadier alignment of the film resulting in a minimum disturbance of the picture on the screen. f

It will be noted that it is possible to vary the pressure exerted on vthe film by the upper and lower film engaging shoes il@ and il@ respectively. For example, the lower shoes lit positioned closer to the intermittently driven sprocket 22 may be adjusted to exert greater pressure on the nlm 26 than the upper iilm engaging shoes lid to give more stabilized control of the lm.

Means maintained in a fixed relation relative to the projector may be provided to enable the operator to observe the position of a film frame relative to the aperture 25 to determine Whether the film is threaded into the projector in frame."

One.desirable form of such framing means comprises a framing light maintained in a xed position out of alignment With the path of the projecting light, and a viewing port positioned on the opposite side of the aperture 28 whereby.v

the position of the frame lines of the film relative to the aperture defining marginal walls of the aperture plate can be observed by the operator.

As illustrated in Fig. l. a framing light may be provided in a housing |54 located outside of the 'main casing l2 of the projector and out of the path. of the projecting light through the shutter housing 14. The framing light housing |54 is provided with a cutout portion |56 directed towards the aperture 28. The framing light posltioned in the housing it@ may be of any suit able type such for example as an electric light and may be controlled by a switch i5@ having a plunger i60 preferably positioned adjacent the back wall il@ so as to be actuated by the marginal edge of a door 862 hinged to the main casing l2. The switch ille is operably connected with the framing light in such a manner that when the door it2 is in the position to close the nlm compartment ld, the framing light is on. When the door ltd is opened theplunger it@ of the switch 'E58 moves longitudinally to actuate the switch and close the electrical contacts to light the framing light positioned in the housing ltd.

A viewing port il may project through the wall of the pressure plate housing E02 in alignment with the aperture 28 and the cutout portion i556 of the housing l5@ whereby the light rays from the framing light may project through the cutout portion lh; aperture 23 and iilm to enable the operator to observe whether the illin is threaded in frame with reference to the aperture As more clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, the viewing port ldd may comprise an eye piece it@ projecting through the pressure plate housing it and suitably attached thereto as by means of a clamp itil. Ii desired, the eye piece itt may be provided with a lens il@ of suitable proportions such for example as a oi-convex lens to magnify the aperture 2d to magnify the image of the viewed frame.

Referring now to Fig. 7, it will be observed that if desired a prism lill vmay be provided` to collect light from the rectangular shaped aperture 20 and direct it to a lens il@ preferably of the plano-convex type whereby the view of the image of the nlm frame vis extended and magnined. to bring it to a position more convenient for the operator to check.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5a framing light is positioned within the cooling chamber t2 out of alignment with the projecting light. This framing light comprises an electric light bulb H2 mounted in a socket iid. The socket lid preferably has a knurled knob llt extending through the wall of the aperture plate housing 32 whereby the socket may be readily removed to replace burned out bulbs. Electric current is supplied to the bulb H2 through suitable wires llt and H30 operably connected to metal rings E82 and ldd respectively connected with the contact points of the bulb 72.

The wire ltd is preferably connected with a switch ldd having a plunger ltd positioned to be actuated by the door 862 to extinguish the framing light when the door is in the position t close the illm compartment it.

Attention is called to the fact that when the door B02 of the iilm compartment It is opened the framing light i12 is automatically turned on whereby the operator can observe the position of the spaced frames of the iilm through the viewing port lll. With the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 it is not necessary to hold the nre valve 843 open because the framing light is positioned at such an angle as to project through the aperture 28 even though the lire valve 8d is in the position to close the front light admission port 86 formed in the shutter housing ll adjacent the end of the inwardly directed baiile 18. The operator thus has both hands free to position the nlm in the proper position with reference to the film guiding and driving means and to manipulate the aperture pressure plate.

Means may be provided to mount the pressure plate housing 02 on the housing carrier arm lill in such a manner that it may be adjusted vertically and horizontally to properly align it with the aperture plate housing 32.

One desirable form of such adjustable mounting means comprises an adjustable locking device more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The arrangement of the parts is such as to permit ready removal of the pressure plate housing H02 as a unit from the nlm compartment l@ of the projector.

The carrier arm i015 is provided with a plate i90 having a laterally extending pin l92 projecting therefrom. The plate lil@ may be secured to the arm Mld by a plurality of screws i9@ projecting through generally arcuate shaped slots in the plate it@ whereby the plate may be rotated dit slightly relative to the arm ll to adjust the vertical position of the pressure plate housing i relative to the aperture plate housing 32.

A male cone H96 may be secured to the pla i by a plurality of screws itt projecting through vertically extending slots in a iiange 200 carried by the male cone 96 whereby the cone can be elevated or lowered slightly relative to the plate i90 to adjust the contact position of the intermittence sprocket shoe 53 relative to the intermittently driven sprocket 22.

The pressure plate housing EQ2 is provided with a laterally extending female cone 202 adapted to receive the male cone i9@ and is also provided vwith an apertured boss 2M adapted to receive the pin l92.

The pressure plate housing M32 may be locked and unlocked in position on the male cone ld by a locking key 206 carried by the locking shaft H2 and adapted to project inside the male cone E through a slot 208. The locking key 20d is actuated by the locking shaft H2 having the actuating knob llt and is maintained in locking position by the tension of a spring 2I0.

Frequent removal of the pressure plate housing E02 is desirable in order to permit'cleaning of the pressure plate; housing and the iilm tracks and shoes. The removal of the aperture pressure plate housing as a unit is accomplished by turning the locking key 20d from the vertical position to the horizontal position so that it is aligned with the slot 208. In this position the locking key 206 can be withdrawn and the entire pressure plate housing |02 may then be removed from the male cone |96.

In replacing the pressure plate housing, primary adjustment is obtained by the guide pin H92 carried by the plate |90 entering the aperture of the boss 201i. Complete alignment is obtained by contact of the female cone 202 with the male cone 96. The actuating knob H0 of the locking shaft H2 having the locking key 205 is then pressed inwardly to compress the spring 2 I ll until the locking key 206 projects through the slot 208 and occupies a position inside the male cone |95. The knob H0 is then rotated 90 and the locking key 206 fits into shallow grooves on the inside of the male cone |96 as illustrated by the position occupied by the locking key 206 of Fig. 3. When the key 206 is moved to the locked position the knob H0 is released whereupon the spring 20 holds the parts securely in the assembled position because the pressure plate housing |02 is firmly supported and aligned at vertically spaced points on the cooperating cones |96 and 202 and by the pin I 92 and apertured boss 20d.

Figs. 9 to l1r disclose a modified form of adinstable means for mounting the pressure plate housing |02 on the verticaly spaced horizontally extending rods |06 in the film compartment I6.

A carrier arm 2|2 slidably mounted on a plurality of the vertically spaced rods |06 is provided with a threaded aperture 2M to receive a locking shaft 2|6. A plate 2|8 having an aperture 220 to receive the shaft 2|6 in close contact therewith is interposed between the carrier arm 2|2 and a body section 222 of the pressure plate housing |02. 'I'he plate 2|6 is channel shaped and is provided with spaced flanges 224 positioned to engage the marginal edge portions 226 of the carrier arm 2|2 to maintainthe pressure plate housing |02 in a predetermined adjusted position relative to the lm tracks 34 and the intermittently driven sprocket 22.

Means may be provided to vary the vertical position of the pressure plate housing |02 relative to the carrier arm 2|2. One desirable form of means for obtaining the desired vertical adjustment resides in the provision of a bolt 228 projecting through a slot 230 formed in a generally horizontally extending flange 232 carried by the plate 2|6. The bolt 228 is restrained from moving vertically relative to the flange 232 by any desired means such for example as spaced washers 234 and a pin 236 extending through the bolt 228. If the body section 222 of the housing |02 is made of relatively soft material such for example as aluminum, a bushing 238 of a hard metal may be threaded into the body section 222 to receive the bolt 228 to prevent stripping threads in the body section 22 2. The bolt 228 is manipulated to position the pressure plate housing |62 in a desired vertical position relative to the carrier arm 292 to adjust the contact position of the intermittence sprocket shoe 58 relative to the interrnittently driven sprocket 22.

Means may be provided to vary the vertical plane of the pressure plate housing |02 relative to the carrier arm 2 2 to align the film shoe guide plate 44 with the film tracks 34. One desirable form of means for obtaining the desired vertical plane adjustment resides in the provision of vertically spaced bolts 246 projecting through slots 242 formed in the plate 2|8. The slots 242 may be arcuate shaped as illustrated to permit varying the angular relation of the pressure plate housing relative to the carrier arm to align the nlm shoes with the lm tracks.

The slot 236l in the horizontally extending ange 232 of the plate 2|8 is of suiiicient length to permit movement of the body section 222 and screws 240 relative to the plate 2|8 as the housing |02 is adjusted vertically or angularly, and the slots 242 are of suiiicient width vertically to permit vertical movement of the body section on the bolt 228 to adjust the housing m2 vertically to adjust the contact position of the intermittence sprocket shoe 58 relative to the intermittently driven sprocket 22. It will be noted that the housing |02 is thus mounted on the carrier arm 2|2 in such a manner that it can be moved vertically or angularly to bring the cooperating parts into a desired position of alignment and to compensate wear of the parts.

The locking shaft 2|6 projects through an enlarged bore 2M in the body section 222 whereby movement of the housing |02 vertically or angularly relative to the plate 2|8 and carrier arm 2|2 is permitted to obtain the desired adjusted position. When the desired adjusted position has been obtained the locking screws 240 are tightplate 2|8 thereby positioning the aperture 220 and plate 2|0 in a desired relationship with the body section 222.

This is a continuation-impart oi' my co-pending application Serial No. 250,310, led January 1l, 1939, now Patent Number 2,312,663; issued March 2, 1943. Features disclosedA but not claimed herein are being claimed in my cepending applications Serial Nos. 547,163, led July 29, 1944, and 547,164, filed July 29, 1944.

I claim:

l. In a motion picture projector having an aperture plate, a pair of spaced vertically extending fllm tracks associated with the aperture plate, a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced re1- atively light iilm engaging shoes a shoe guide member supporting said shoes, a pressure plate spaced from the shoe guide member. independent yielding means between the pressure plate and each of the lm engaging shoes, and vertically spaced manually operable means projecting laterally from the pressure plate to selectively move the upper or lower ends of the pressure plate relative to the shoe guide member to vary the film engaging pressure exerted by vertically spaced pairs of illm engaging shoes.

2. In a motion picture projector having an aperture plate, a pairlof spaced vertically extending film tracks associated with the aperture plate, a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced relatively light lm engaging shoes, e, shoe guide member supporting said shoes, a iloating pressure plate spaced from the shoe guide member, independent yielding means between the pressure plate and each of the film engaging shoes whereby each shoe of a pair of vertically spaced shoes exerts substantially equal pressure as the other shoe of the same pair, and independent manually operable means to Vary the nlm engaging pressure exerted by vertically spaced pairs of Jm engaging shoes.

3. In a motion picture projector', a relatively xed apertureplate, a pair of film tracks asso ciated with aperture plate, a pressure plate housing movable between operating and threading positions adjacent and spaced from the nlm tracks, a shoe guide plate having a plurality of spaced apertures carried by the pressure plate housing, a plurality of nlm engaging shoes Dositioned in said apertures, a pressure plate spaced from the shoe guide plate and oatingly mounted thereon, spaced yielding means between the pressure plate and each of the lm engaging shoes, and spaced manually operable means to vary the pressure exerted by the yielding means on spaced film engaging shoes.

4. A im shoe guide and pressure plate assembly for a motion picture projector comprising a shoe guide plate having a plurality of spaced 0 apertures therein, a plurality of nlm engaging shoes positioned in said apertures, s, pressure plate floatingly mounted relative to the shoe guide plate, separately operable yielding means between the pressure plate and each of the lm engaging shoes, spaced cams positioned to engage the pressure plate, and separate manually operable means to actuate each of the spaced cams to vary the tension of the yielding means on spaced film engaging shoes.

5. A iilm shoe guiding mechanism for a motion picture projector comprising a member supporting a plurality of relatively light independent lm engaging shoes, independent yielding means urging each of the nlm engaging shoes outwardcned to lock the pressure plate housing |02 to the u ly relative to said member, cam means to vary fi-i the pressure exerted by the yielding means each of the nlm engaging shoes, and manually operable means extending laterally from the lrn shoe guiding mech to actuate the 'cam means.

6. In a mouon picture projector. a relativelyr nxed aperture plate, a pair of nlm trachsesso` ciated with the aperture plate, a pressure plate housing movable between operating and thread= ing positions adjacent and spaced from the lm tracks, a shoe guide plate having a plurality of spaced apertures carried by the pressure plate housing, a plurality of ulm engaging shoes posttioned in said apertures, a pressure plate spaced from the shoe guide plate and oatingly mounted thereon, spaced cam followers carried by the pressure plate, spaced yielding rnns between the pressure plate and the ulm engaging shoes, and spaced manually operable means comprising shafts projecting through the pressure plate housing, cams carried by the shafts and engaging said cam followers to vary the pressure ein erted by the yielding means on spaced nlm en= gaging shoes.

7. A pressure plate housing assembly for a motion picture projector comprising a housing, a nlm shoe carrying plate xed to the housing, a plurality of spaced nlm engaging shoes mounted in the shoe carrying plate, a pressure plate associated with the' shoe carrying plate, separately operable yielding means between each of the nlm engaging shoes and the pressure plate, and spaced independent manually operable means to move spaced portions of the pressure plate relative to the lm shoe carrying plate to vary the pressure exerted on spaced nlm engaging shoes.

8. A pressure plate housing assembly for a motion picture projector comprising a housing, a nlm shoe carrying plate xed to the housing, a

plurality of pairs of fspaced nlm engaging shoes mounted in the shoe carrying plate, a pressure plate associated with the shoe carrying plate,

yielding meansl between the lm engaging shoes and the pressure plate, and e. plurality of spaced independent manually operable means to move the pressure plate relative to the shoe carrying plate to vary the pressure exerted by spaced pairs of nlm engaging shoes.v

9. ln a motion picture projector head, an aper-a tured pressure plate and lm guide member including a plurality of independently actuated spring pressed nlm guiding shoes and a spring tension adjustment plate adapted to control the spring ,pressure on the shoes, adjustment cams counicaimg with said spring tension adjustment plate and adapted to permit varied spring pressures to be exerted on. the upper and lower illm guiding shoes, said aperture pressure plate nlm guide member and spring tension adjustment plate being secured together as a unit and removable from and replaceable in said projector as a unita l0. in a motion picture projector having a nlm compartment, an aperture plate in the nlm cornu partment, a plurality or pairs ci vertically spaced iilm engaging shoes to yieldingly urge a film toward the aperture plate, pressure plate means spaced from .the lm engaging shoes. independently operable yielding means between spaced portions ofthe pressure plate means and each of the lrn engaging shoes urging the shoes towards the aperture plate, and spaced readily accessible manually operable means in the nlm .compartment for changing the position of spaced 

